Can marking machine



April 1953 J. K. BRUCE ET AL CAN MARKING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1950 5 Sheefs-Sheet l JOHN A. Bel/c5 W/LLMM EVEffTTLONG By Filed May 24, "1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 21, 1953 J. K. BRUCE ET AL 2,635,531

CAN MARKING MACHINE INVEN 704 s: JOHN A 54 4/65 WILL/AM EVEfEULO/V' Patented Apr. 21, 1953 CAN MARKING MACHINE John K. Bruce, South Pasadena, and William Everett Long, Bellflower, 'Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Bruce Engineering Corporation, Pasadena, Calif., a corporation of California Application MayIM, 1950, iS'erial'No. 163,952

(Cl. "IMF-'35) .11 Claims. 1

Y ,This application :relates to material handling equipment, and more particularly to machinery for handling canned goods.

In the canned beer industry it is common practice :.to apply code marking to the cans after filling and sealing and prior to the operation of the date on which the beer was sealed within the can is ascertainable. In view of the tremendously high rate at which filled and sealed cans of beer are handled in a modern .beer canning plant, the matter of afiix'ing the requisite marking to each can heretofore has necessitated the installation and operation of special equipment of ,a complicated, cumbersome and expensive nature which has required almost constant supervision and frequent servicing and repair by trained personnel, and yet in actual commercial practicehas not ,proven itself to be adequately dependable as far as its applying easily legible markings toeach can is concerned.

The presentinvention providesa can marking machine of such a highly simplified nature that it is capable of substantially eliminating 'thessocalled down-time of canning production lines heretofore necessitated by can marking equipment of more commondesign.

The can marking machine is adapted for use in conjunction with a conveyor of a, standard production line deriving its motivating force from the cans themselves as they move along the conveyor, rather than from an independent motor, thus not only resulting in appreciable savings in equipment, but also increasing the overall efficiency of its operation. The operation of the marking machine and of the ink supplying apparatus which it includes is automatically maintained at a rate which is proportional to the rate at which cans are supplied'to the machine by the associated conveyor, and operation of the machine ceases entirely when the :flow of cans stops. tributing to the saving in ink whichalone is sufficient to more than compensate for the total cost of the machine within a single year of normal operation.

The invention comprises can marking apparatus for marking the top surfaces of vertically disposed cans traveling on a horizontal conveyor "and including a housing, support means depend- This is one of the factors con-1 the conveyor, is separate 'vl'ertical shaft journaled through the housing "and depending therefrom adjacent each side of the conveyor, a separate star wheel mounted on each shaft abov the conveyor, each 'star'wheel having a like number of radial 'arms adapted to successively project into .the path of cans traveling on the conveyor whereby :such can travel causes simultaneous .and corresponding rotation of both star wheels, a driven shaft mounted in the housing to rotate on a horizontal axis, means driving'the driven shaft responsive to rotation of the vertical shafts, and a printing wheel'mounte'd to rotate with the drivenshaft and to project below the housing in ,position to bear against the top iaceof cans pass- .ingb'eneath'the'housing.

Referring'to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken through a can marking machine incorporating the principles of the present invention. The plane of section is indicated by the line l-l of Figure '2 and the direction of view by the arrows.

Figure '2 is ,a. horizontal sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and the direction of view by the arrows.

Figure '3 is a view in end elevation, par'tly broken away and shown in transverse, vertical section .on a ,plane'indicated by the lines 3--3 of Figures 1 and I2 and the direction of view by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical sectiona1 view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 44 of each of Figures 1 and 2 and the direction of view by the arrows.

Specifically describing that embodiment of our invention which has been chosen for illustration and description herein, our improved and simplified marking machineis operahly mounted within a frame indicated in its entirety at H and comprising an upper housing section l2 and a pair of supporting legs l3. These legs are spaced apart and preferably are arranged in opposed relation with their vertical axes in a plane which extends transversely of the machine. Rigidly secured to and extending downwardly from each of the legs i3 is a threaded stud 14 adapted to extend through a horizontal flange it which is rigid with and which extends preferably outwardly from the associated side member I! of a conveyor I8 along which the cans I9 to be marked advance during one phase of the operation of their being sealed and preparedior shipment.

Thus it may be seen that means are provided for facile mounting of the marking machine upon the conveyor l8 with the legs |3 straddling the conveyor and with the housing portion l2 disposed above and extending athwart the conveyor so that as the cans l9 travel along the conveyor l8 they pass between the legs l3 below the housing l2. Preferably, in order to impart a substantial degree of flexibility of the entire marking machine with respect to the conveyor, a resilient washer or annular pad 2| is inserted upon each stud I4 between the lower end of the associated leg l3 and the upper face of the flange 6; and a similar cushion member 22 is interposed between the lower face of each flange I6 and the nut 23 threaded upon the associated stud |4 so that when the nuts 23 are tightened the entire machine is securely mounted upon the conveyor l8 without, however, that degree of rigidity that might be apt to damage either the cans l9 or portions of the machine in the event of jamming of the cans as they pass through the machine or passage of a can of unusual size through the machine.

Extending transversely of the machine within the upper housing portion I2 is a driven shaft 26 which is journaled as by suitable anti-friction bearings 21 within suitable pillars or web portions 28 rigid and preferably integral with the lower or base portion 29 of the housing I2. A pair of spaced bevel gears 3| rigid with the shaft 26 respectively enmesh bevel gears 32 each of which is rigidly secured upon the upper end of a vertical drive shaft 33 journaled as by bushings 34 in a downwardly extending tubular extension 36 of the housings base 29. The two vertical drive shafts 33 also are in opposed relation, with their axes lying in a common transverse plane with the result that star wheels 31, one of which is rigidly secured to the lower end of each drive shaft 33, are arranged directly opposite each other on opposite sides of the path traversed by cans |9 as the cans pass along the conveyor 8. Each of these star wheels 31 comprises a hub 38 and preferably six spokes 39 extending radially therefrom, the spokes preferably being of flat blade-like configuration and reinforced by webs 40. They are so proportioned that their blades extend into the path traversed by the cans IS with the result that as the cans pass through the space below the housing l2 they successively engage the star wheels and impart rotation thereto, turning the shafts 33 and thereby imparting rotary motion to the driven shaft 26. There being two opposed star wheels 31 both of which are engaged simultaneously by each can |9, lateral shifting of the can as it engages the star wheels and consequent avoidance of its actually turning the star wheels is precluded; and since there are six spokes 33 on each star wheel 37, as one can passes through the space between the star wheels, carrying with it one spoke of each star wheel, the next successive spoke of each star wheel will, before that can moves out of engagement with the spokes which it is pushing, be turned into the path immediately in front of the nextsuccessive can IS, with the result that positive assurance is provided that the star wheels and their associated shafts 33 will turn through one-sixth A;) of a revolution each time a can i9 passes through the machine. Moreover, since the ratio of the bevel gears 3| to the bevel gears 32 is 1:1, the driven shaft 26 also will be turned through a like angular distance as the result of passage of each can through the machine.

Carried by the driven shaft 26 for rotation 4 therewith is a marking wheel 4| of such dimensions that its radius is slightly less than the distance between the axis of the shaft 25 and the path traversed by the tops of the cans I9 as they pass. Hence, the lower peripheral portion of the marking wheel 4| extends downwards through an opening 42 in the bottom 43 of the housings base 29, enabling marking type 44 carried peripherally upon the wheel 4| to engage the tops of the cans and imprint thereupon characters corresponding to the nature of the face of the type 44. The type 44 are interchangeable, being removably secured to the peripheral edge of the wheel 4| through the expedient of a clamping disk 46 removably attached to one face of the wheel as by wing head screws 41 passing through the disk 48 and threaded into the wheel 4|. The disk 46 engages one side of the type 44 to retain an angularly extending flange 48 within a complementary lateral extension 49 of the peripheral groove 5| of the wheel 4! Since the driven shaft 26 and the marking wheel 4| carried thereby rotate through one-sixth /6) of a turn as the result of passage of each can IS, the type 44 are arranged in groups which are spaced sixty derees (60) apart about the periphery of the wheel and in such position that when a can I9 is directly centered below the axis of the shaft 26, one of the groups of type will be in engagement with the top of that can at or closely adjacent its center. It is also of interest to note that the parts are so proportioned and arranged that the peripheral speed of the marking wheel 4| corresponds with the linear speed of the cans I9 as they move along the conveyor, thus making for sharp, highly legible characters imprinted upon the tops of the cans rather than characters of a blurred or smudged nature which would result from any difference in these speeds.

Means are provided for inking the type 44; and the inking means, as well as the marking wheel 4|, receives its motivating energy directly from the cans l9 as the result of their impingement against and rotation of the star wheels 31. Also mounted within the housing I2, extending transversely thereof, is a countershaft 6| operably connected to the driven shaft 26 to be rotated simultaneously therewith through the expedient of a driving gear 62 rigid with the shaft 26 and enmeshed with a driven gear 63 rigid with the countershaft 6|. The countershaft 6| is journaled in a bushing 64 carried by a pillar 6|; upstanding from the bottom 43 of the housings base 29. Preferably beyond the pillar 66 from its gear 63 the countershaft 6| carries an ink transfer roll 61 preferably splined thereto as indicated at 68. The surface of this ink transfer roll 31 is preferably in the form of a relatively thick resilient tire 69 adapted to apply ink evenly to the face of the type 44 inasmuch as the parts are so proportioned that the type 44 engage the periphery of the tire 69 as they are carried past the transfer roll 61 as the consequence of rotation of the marking wheel 4|.

Means are also provided for adjusting the countershaft 6| radially so as to vary the distance between the periphery of the ink transfer roll 61 and the marking wheel 4| and thereby assuring that the transfer roll 61 bears with the optimum pressure against the face of the type 44 and thus is enabled to apply the proper quantity of ink to the type. Toward this end, the bushing 64 whereby the countershaft 6| is journaled in the pillar 66 is eccentrically bored and fits the pillar with suificient looseness to permit the bushing to turn with respect thereto, and thus at- :tain the desired adjustment of the countershaft "5| toward or away from the marking wheel i415. :Ajamb nut 19 threaded on the end of the bushing [it opposite its head, when tightened the associated face of the pillar 5.6, releasably locks the bushing in selected position of adjustment.

Ink is supplied to 'the'surface of the transfer roll 61 at arate which is proportional to the rate at which cans pass through the machine inasmuch as the ink supplying mechanism also is driven by the countershaft 5'! which, as herein above explained, receives the motivating force causing it to turn, directly from the cans as they pass through the machine. Because of this proportionality, the supply of ink is increased if and when the rate of passage of cans through the machine is increased, and conversely is decreased simultaneously and proportionally with decrease of the rate of can passage and to the extent that when any interruption in passage of cans through the machine occurs, supplying of ink to the transfer roll ceases altogether. Thus is at-- tained a saving in ink, as compared to the ink consumption in can marking machines of more conventional designs, of very substantial commercial importance. The rate of discharge of the liquid ink "H from its storage reservoir 72 is determined by the frequency of reciprocation of a plunger '53 carried by the housing it of the inking mechanism and extending from within the reservoir 72 downwards so that its lower end is engageable by a pin i5 eccentrically mounted upon and extending laterally from a worm wheel 16 operab-ly engaged by a worm H which is cari ried by a shaft it rotated proportionally with rotation of the ccuntersh'aft 5i through the ex- 'pedient of a belt iii engaged upon a driven pulley 85 carried by the shaft i8 and-a drive pulley 52 carried by the countershaft 6!. l3 reciprocates, ink ii is discharged from the reservoir "l2 through a discharge nozzle as (see Figure 1) onto the surface of the transfer roll 61. A spreader roll 3? is journaled upon a bracket 88 pivotally mounted in the lower end of the housing M and is urged by gravity to turn in such a manner that the spreader roll '6? presses against the surface of the transfer roll 87 between the point at which the ink drips onto the transfer roll and the point at which contact occurs between the transfer roll 5? and the type M. A spring El encircling thepivotal end of the bracket 38 urges the'bracket .83 and the spreader roll 31 carried therebyto move in an axial direction, pressing the bracket 85 against a cam 92 which is carried by the same shaft '53 as that which carries the worm H. The eifect of such engagement between the bracket 38 and the cam 92 is to cause the bracket and. its spreader roll 31 to move back and forth across the surface of the transfer roll '67 and thereby make for greater efiiciency in spreading the ink evenly over the surface of the transfer roll 5?, thus further effecting ink economy.

Inasmuch as the housing Us of the inking mechanism extends upwardly through an opening 9% in the top es of the housing 52, and since thepreservoir 72, which is of transparent material, is mounted, at the upper end of the housing i i exterioriy of the top G5, the quantity of ink "ll remaining within the reservoir '52 is instantly o'bservable at all times.

Under normal conditions of operation, the cans being marked move through the marking machine at a relatively high rate of speed (it is not As the plunger 1 unusual for the cans to travel at the-rate ofzthree or .four per second). Hence, :it is desirable to provide means for developing some degree of frictional resistance to the rotation of the star wheels and the other movable parts of the machine operably coupled thereto. This is for the purpose of preventing the possibility that the star wheels might, by the momentum of the .movable parts, be caused to rotate faster than appropriate to the rate of movement of the cans, as, for example, when a sudden interruption ocours in the rate at which cans are fed :along the conveyor IE to the marking machine. In the absence of such a frictional resistance, the star wheelsmig-ht, after .flow of cans to the machine decelerates or ceases, assume such a position that the next time a candoesreach them, that can will strike the ends of the spokes then presented to the can, rather than the lateral faces-of the spokes, and then, instead of imparting rotation to the star wheels and passing easily therebetween, jar-n the conveyor. To provide against such an occurrence, a friction drag indicated in its entirety at 1.9! (see Figures 2 and 4) :iszprovided. It comprises ascrew 192, preferably having a knurled head 103 to facilitate :its adjustment without tools. The screw is threaded into the end of the countershaft :fii, with preferably both a fiat washer 1M and a spring Washer 196 between its .head m3 and the outer face of gear 53. The connection between the gear '63 and the countershaft being :a spline :lili, tight-em ing the screw 462 presses the inner face of. the gear '53 more tightly against the end of the bush- .ing in which the countershaft 6| is journaled, thereby increasing the frictional resistance, :not only to movement of the countershaft 15! and the gear 63,. but of ailof the movable parts .operably coupled thereto, including the star wheel 3-"1.

Another detail :of construction which should be mentioned here affords convenience in -serv icing the-transfer roll 51. The preferred means .for retaining the transfer 'roll .61 against axial movement on the countershaf-t-Gi is a detent .I H in the form of a ball H2 extending partially through the restricted end of a diametra-l hole H3 in'thecountershaftfil. A spring .1 .M .u-ndercompression between the ball H2 and .a plug 3,16 threaded into the opposite end of the hole H3 ,yieldably retain the ballpi-n that position, ex-

teriorly-of the countershaft 51, which enables to engage an end of the :hub of the transferroll =6! to avoid accidental axial .movement of the transfer roll 51. But when disassembly is desired, all that is required .is that the transfer roll 6'! be forced to the "right as viewed on Figure :4,

and thewedging action developed when the :ex-

posed portion of the ball iii "forcea bly engages the hub of the :roll 51, will result in forcing the ball. i H back into the hole H3 against the action of the spring I Hi, whereupon the transfer-r0115! can readily be removed from its supporting shaft,

thus permitting inspection, cleansing, or repair.

We claim:

1. Can marking apparatus "for marking-the top surfaces of vertically disposed-cans traveling on a horizontal conveyor comprising a frame, a pair of drive shafts journal-ed therein in spaced apart relationya star-wheel on each of said drive shafts engagedble by a can in moving between said shafts for "turning said shafts, means for mountingsaid frame with said shafts extendingvertically onopp'osite sides of the path of cans to be marked and with one of the spokes-of each of saidstar-wheelslying in said path, a-drivenshaft o iournaled in said frame in position offset from and extending athwart said path, means connecting said driven shaft to each of said drive shafts to be rotated thereby, a wheel carried by said driven shaft with its periphery disposed closely adjacent the position occupied by the surface of a can to which marking is to be applied when said can is in engagement with said star- Wheels, and marking means mounted on the periphery of said wheel.

2. In a machine for marking the tops of cans as they advance in a vertical position along a horizontal conveyor, a frame comprising a housing and a pair of supporting legs extending downwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation, means for mounting said marking machine upon said conveyor with said flanges rigid with and extending horizontally from the sides of said conveyor in position to receive and support said legs with said housing above and extending athwart said conveyor, a pair of shafts journaled in and extending vertically downwards from said housing in position straddling said conveyor, a star wheel carried by each of said shafts and comprising a hub and spokes extending radially therefrom, at least one of said spokes of each of said star wheels extending into the path traversed by cans in moving along said conveyor whereby both of said star wheels are motivated by said can to impart rotary motion to said shafts, a driven shaft journaled within said housing, means coupling said driven shaft to said vertical shafts to be rotated thereby, a marking wheel carried by said driven shaft with the lower peripheral portion thereof extending downwards through the I bottom of said housing to a position closely adjacent the path traversed by the tops of cans moving along said conveyor, type mounted on the periphery of said marking wheel, means for inking said type comprising a countershaft journaled within said housing, means connecting said countershaft to said driven shaft for rotation simultaneously therewith including a driving gear carried by said driven shaft and a driven gear splined to said countershaft, a transfer roll carried by said countershaft in position for its peripheral surface to engage type means for supplying ink to the surface of said transfer roll, and a variable frictional drag comprising a screw threaded into one end of said countershaft with its head exposed beyond the outer face of said driven gear, and a spring washer encircling the the housing on opposite sides of the conveyor and adapted to be aflixed to the conveyor framework for supporting the housing above the conveyor, a pair of vertical shafts journaled through the housing and depending therefrom on either side of the conveyor, a separate star wheel mounted On each shaft above the conveyor with the two star wheels having a like number of radial arms adapted to successively project into the path of cans traveling on the conveyor whereby such can travel causes simultaneous and corresponding rotation of both star wheels, a driven shaft mounted in the housing to rotate on a horizontal axis, means driving the driven shaft responsive to rotation of the two vertical shafts, and a printing 8 wheel mounted to rotate with the driven shaft and to project below the housing in position to bear against the top face of cans passing beneath the housing.

4. Can marking apparatus for marking the upper exposed end surfaces of vertically disposed cans traveling on a horizontal conveyor comprising a housing, support members depending from the housing on opposite sides of the conveyor, resilient mounting means attaching the support members non-rigidly to the conveyor framework for supporting the housing above the conveyor, a pair of vertical shafts journaled through the housing and depending therefrom on either side of the conveyor, a separate star wheel mounted on each shaft above the conveyor with the two star wheels having a like number of radial arms adapted to successively project into the path of cans traveling on the conveyor whereby such can travel causes simultaneous and corresponding rotation of both star wheels, a driven shaft mounted in the housing to rotate on a horizontal axis, means driving the driven shaft responsive to rotation of the two vertical shafts, and a printing wheel mounted to rotate with the driven shaft and to project below the housing in position to bear against the top face of cans passing beneath the housing.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said resilient mounting means comprises resilient cushion members interposed between the support members and the conveyor framework.

6. Can marking apparatus for marking the upper exposed end surfaces of vertically disposed cans traveling on a horizontal conveyor comprising a housing, support members depending from the housing on opposite sides of the conveyor and adapted to be affixed to the conveyor framework for supporting the housing above the conveyor, a pair of vertical shafts journaled through the housing and depending therefrom on either side of the conveyor, a separate star wheel mounted on each shaft above the conveyor with the two star wheels being equidistant above the conveyor and having a like number of radial arms adapted to successively project into the path of cans traveling on the conveyor whereby such can travel causes simultaneous and corre sponding rotation of both star wheels, a driven shaft mounted in the housing to rotate on a horizontal axis, means driving the driven shaft responsive to rotation of the two vertical shafts, and a printing wheel mounted to rotate with the driven shaft and to project below the hOuSing in position to bear against the top face of cans passing beneath the housing.

'7. Can marking apparatus for marking the upper exposed end surfaces of vertically disposed cans traveling on a horizontal conveyor comprising a housing, support members depending from the housing on opposite sides of the conveyor and adapted to be aflixed to the conveyor framework for supporting the housing above the conveyor. a pair of vertical shafts journaled through the housing and depending therefrom on either side of the conveyor, a separate star wheel mounted on each shaft above the conveyor with the two star wheels having a like number of radial arms adapted to successively project into the path of cans traveling on the conveyor whereby such can travel causes simultaneous and corresponding rotation of both star wheels, a driven shaft mounted in the housing to rotate on a horizontal axis, means driving the driven shaft responsive to rotation of the two vertical shafts. a printing wheel mounted to rotate with the driven shaft and to roject below the housing in position to bear against the top face of cans passing beneath the housing, and inking means for supplying ink to the printing wheel.

8. Can marking apparatus for marking the upper exposed end surfaces of vertically disposed cans traveling on a horizontal conveyor comprising a housing, support members depending from the housing on opposite sides of the conveyor and adapted to be affixed to the conveyor framework for supporting the housing above the conveyor, a pair of vertical shafts journaled through the housing and depending therefrom on either side of the conveyor, a separate star wheel mounted on each shaft above the conveyor with the two star wheels having a like number of radial arms adapted to successively project into the path of cans traveling on the conveyor whereby such can travel causes simultaneous and corresponding rotation of both star wheels, a driven shaft mounted in the housing to rotate on a horizontal axis, means driving the driven shaft responsive to rotation of the two vertical shafts, a printing wheel mounted to rotate with the driven shaft and to project below the housing in position to bear against the top face of cans passing beneath the housing, inking means for supplying ink to the printing wheel, and means operable responsive to rotation of the star wheels to actuate said inking means and to apply ink to the rinting wheel in amounts proportionate to the angular velocity of the star wheels.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said printing wheel comprises a wheel having a continuous annular peripheral groove bottomed adjacent one face of the wheel and opening toward the opposite face, the groove being adapted to receive protruding flanges on type arranged on the circumference of the wheel, and a clamping plate affixed to said opposite face of the wheel and removably locking type in said grooveengaging position.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said inking means and means operable responsive to rotation of the star wheels to actuate the L ink flow from the reservoir, and means operable responsive to rotation of the countershaft and sensible to the rate of rotation thereof to actuate the flow control means.

11. Can marking apparatus for marking the upper exposed end surfaces of vertically disposed cans traveling on a horizontal conveyor comprising a housing, support means depending from the housing on opposite sides of the conveyor, resilient mounting means for attaching the support members non-rigidly to the conveyor framework where by the housing is suspended above and across the conveyor, a separate vertical shaft journaled through the housing and depending therefrom adjacent each side of the conveyor, 2. separate star wheel mounted on each shaft above the conveyor with the two star Wheels being equidistant above the conveyor and having a like number of radial arms adapted to successively project into the path of cans traveling on the conveyor whereby such can travel causes simultaneous and corresponding rotation of both star wheels, a driven shaft mounted in the housing to rotate on a horizontal axis, means driving the driven shaft responsive to rotation of the two vertical shafts and at the same rate of rotation, a printing wheel mounted to rotate with the driven shaft and to project below the housing in position to bear against the top face of cans passing beneath the housing, inking means for supplying ink to printing means carried on the periphery of the printing wheel and means operable responsive to rotation of the star wheels to actuate said inking means and to cause ink to flow to the printing wheel in amounts proportionate to the angular velocity of the star wheels.

JOHN K. BRUCE. WILLIAM EVERETT LONG.

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